Plumber s clamp



(No Model.)

J. H. ASH. PLUMBBRS CLAMP.

Patented May 10, 1892.

STATES PATENT OF ICE.

JOSEPH HOWVELL ASH, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK.

PLUMBERS CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part'of Letters Patent No. 474,713, dated May 10,1892.

Application filed March 15, 1892.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH HOWELL ASH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Plumbers Clamps; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to plumbers clamps for holding and supporting apipe, cook, or fit. ting during the process of wiping a joint.

The object of the invention is to providea clamp that will be efficient,convenient of operation, light, simple, and capable of being packed in asmall space, so as to be readily carried in the plumbers bag withoutmaterially increasing the bulk or adding to the weight of the toolsusually carried when jobbin.

The invention consists of a clamp composed of two members which areadapted to be pivotally connectedtogether and grip the pipe betweenthem, the free ends of the said members being constructed to be fastenedin a proper relation and form a support for the clamp.

The improvement further consists of the novel features and the peculiarconstruction and combination of the parts, which will be hereinaftermore fully described and claimed,

and which are shown in the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of a modification in which the members of the clamp aredetachably connected together and showing the foot of the membersapertured to receive a spike or pin. Fig. 3 is a further modificationshowing the pivotal connection of the members of the clamp between thegripping-jaws and the feet.

Usually there will be three clamps to a set two to support the main pipeand one to supportthe branch pipe. Obviously the number of clamps to aset may be varied. The invention residing in the construction of theclamp, the following description will be restricted to a single clamp.

The clamp comprises, essentially, two mem- Serial No. 425,021. (Nomodel.)

bers A and B, which are similarly constructed, being rights and lefts,and which are adapted to be pivotally connected together.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the members are represented as being pivotallyconnected together at one ground.

The pivotal connection between the memb rs A and B may be permanent,-asshown in Fig. 1, or detachable, as shown in Figs. 2 and ,3. The latterform is preferred because it admits of the clamp being packed in a smallspace and because the members can be separated and placed the one on theother.

In Fig.3 the pivotal connection of the memhers is placed between thejaws aand b and the feet. The operation of this form of clamp issubstantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, although the formis somewhat changed. Of course to clamp the jaws on the pipe the footedends of the members are separated, whereas in the form of clamp shown inFigs. 1 and 2 they are brought together.

To use the invention, the pipe E is placed between the jaws of theclamp, and if the form be that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the footed ends ofthe members are brought together to grip the pipe firmly. If the feetare provided with prongs, the latter are driven into a plank or board,thereby securing the clamp in a fixed position. In the event of a boardnot being at hand the clamp can be set up on the ground and a long nailor wooden pin can be driven through the apert ire in the feet of themembers. Should the form of clamp be that shown in Fig. 3, the footedends of the members are'separated to clamp the jaws on the pipe, theclamp being secured in precisely the same manner as above specified.

The clamp is composed of strips of metal wide and thick enough topossess the strength required, and yet not be cumbersome or weighty.Strips of plate steel have been found best for the purpose.

It will be observed that the footed ends of the members are separated orspread apart, thereby obtaining a firm footing for the clamp. This is anessential feature in the organization of the clamp.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. Aplumbers clamp composed of the members which are constructed to bepivotally connected together, and having jaws to receive the pipe orfitting to be held, and having the footed ends spread and constructed tobe fastened and form a support for the clamp, substantially asspecified.

2. A plu mbers clamp composed of the members which are constructed to bedetachably connected together by a pivotal joint, and having jaws toreceive the pipe or fitting to be held, and having the footed endsspread and constructed to be fastened and form a support for the clamp,substantially as specified.

3. The hereinbefore-specified plumbers .clamp, composed of two memberswhich are adapted to be pivotally connected together at one end, andhaving the opposite ends of the said members footed and provided withprongs, which are adapted to be driven into a plank to secure the saidends and fasten the clamp in a fixed position, and having jaws formed inthe said members near the pivotal connection, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnessesJOSEPH HOWELL ASH. Witnesses:

NICHOLAS OGORMAN, J OSEPH H. ASH, Jr.

